cuss someone like a dog
Tear into somebody with a hard, loud scolding.
Also called dog-cuss, dog cuss.
Updated September 21, 2026
cuss someone like a dog pronunciation
/KUSS sum-un lahk uh DAWG/
Meaning
When you cuss someone like a dog, you do not hold back. You swear, fuss, and lay into them the way a farm dog gets yelled at for tearing up the chickens. Southern and Appalachian talk uses it for a thorough tongue-lashing, half story and half warning. Shorter forms like dog-cuss mean the same thing. You might laugh about it later. In the moment it stings.
How folks use it
- “Mama cussed him like a dog for tracking mud across her clean floor.”
- “Boss dog-cussed that crew after they left the gate open again.”
Origin and etymology
Built from Southern cuss (curse) plus the simile like a dog, which intensifies rough treatment. Rural speakers have long compared a hard scolding to how you dress down a bad dog. Dog-cuss and dog cussing are later clipped forms of the same idea.
Frequently asked questions
Does it mean they cussed at a dog?
No. It means they tore into a person as harsh as you'd fuss at a dog that messed up.